Eartha Kitt Dies At 81

Singer, dancer and actress Eartha Kitt died today at the age 81.

Kitt died in New York, where she was being treated for colon cancer, her publicist said. Her daughter, Kitt Shapiro, was by her side.

She was performing almost until the end, taping a PBS special six weeks ago in Chicago, Illinois. The show is set to air in February.

She was one of the few artists to be nominated in the Tony, Grammy and Emmy award categories and was a stalwart of the Manhattan cabaret scene.

She famously played Catwoman in the Batman television series in the 1960s and was known for her distinctive, feline drawl.

She also had a number of hit songs, including Old Fashioned Girl, C'est Si Bon and Santa Baby.

VHS Era Officially Over, Again

I thought it was already over, since the last major studio stopped producing VHS in 2006 and most video stores dropped it before that. This story is about the last wholesale reseller that still carried it. Whatever you find in stores now is leftover product from 2006-earlier.

First Lady of Star Trek Beams Away

The 'First Lady' of Star Trek, Majel Barrett Roddenberry, widow of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry, passed away yesterday at age 76.
She was perhaps the most prolific Trek actor, appearing in every Trek series as various characters and heard in nearly every Trek episode and four of the films as the computer voice. Most seen as Nurse (later Dr.) Christine Chapel in the original series and films, she actually had an earlier role in Trek's first pilot, The Cage, as Number One, second in command of the Enterprise.
Later she appeared in The Next Generation as recurring character Lwaxana Troi and reprised her computer voice role in JJ Abram's upcoming Star Trek film.
Majel also popped up in various other Roddenberry productions like The Questor Tapes, Planet Earth, Genesis II, and Earth: Final Conflict.
I had the privilege of meeting her at an early 90's convention and actually got to speak with her at length about the direction of Trek, without a line of fans behind me. I heard her speak at conventions and she was perhaps the most passionate convention speaker as she spoke about the future of humanity and scientific exploration.
She died peacefully, in her sleep, and was surrounded by family and loved ones at her home in Bel Air, California.
From Roddenberry.com:

"My mother truly acknowledged and appreciated the fact that Star Trek fans played a vital role in keeping the Roddenberry dream alive for the past 42 years. It was her love for the fans, and their love in return, that kept her going for so long after my father passed away." - Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, Jr.

Austin Teacher Sees Light, Now Loves Linux

Update on Thursday's post below regarding the Austin teacher Linux incident:
Ken Starks of HeliOS Solutions has been posting his conversations with Karen, the offending teacher, on his Twitter feed. Watch the Linux soap opera unfold [most recent at top]:

k is considering an open letter to the Linux Community. Waiting for emotions to settle, may "out" herself to a trusted Linux Journalist. about 2 hours ago from web

k discovered E17 2nite-called to ask about Elive. Has found combination of k3b and distrowatch. Note to Fry's - stock lots of blanks. 9:09 PM Dec 14th from web

Lots learned today. She has three different environments to explore and decide which she prefers. I prefer my home right now. I'm exhausted 6:25 PM Dec 13th from web

Fini Two desktops dual booting, one laptop Mandriva 2009 solo, has online manuals for all. Not sure she's going to spend time in forums.. 6:23 PM Dec 13th from web

Mandriva is installed now on the dell laptop and is updating via yum. we're going to go get something to eat. Be back later to boot. 4:10 PM Dec 13th from web

Second one complete, currently playing in the Mint playground. Loves the "safe updates" and the snappiness of the system. Luv@ first site 2:25 PM Dec 13th from web

Three computers to install - one down two to go. First - Mepis RC. Flawless install, stunning desktop presentation. Everything works OOTB 12:22 PM Dec 13th from web

Cover me....I'm goin' in 8:11 AM Dec 13th from web

colleagues talked her into civil litigation for privacy violation, now on hold. Am installing Linux on her computer this Saturday. 5:13 AM Dec 11th from web

45 minute conversation with Karen. Educated her on FOSS/Linux. Apologies flowed, she is in awe of the Linux/FOSS Community. 5:11 AM Dec 11th from web

Text received: can I call u? response: I guess who r u? received:Karen response:k. Talked with her twice that day. Tearful, frightened. 5:10 AM Dec 11th from web

Austin Teacher Says Linux Is Illegal

I heard this on Buzz Out Loud and just couldn't believe it. Right here in Austin, TX, a middle school teacher just about had a cow when she observed a student demonstrating a Linux operating system and giving out Linux discs ( the HeliOS distro, evidently.)
She took the trouble to confiscate the discs from this young man and email Ken Starks of HeliOS Solutions to tell him just what she thought of him distributing Linux for free.

"...observed one of my students with a group of other children gathered around his laptop. Upon looking at his computer, I saw he was giving a demonstration of some sort. The student was showing the ability of the laptop and handing out Linux disks. After confiscating the disks I called a confrence with the student and that is how I came to discover you and your organization. Mr. Starks, I am sure you strongly believe in what you are doing but I cannot either support your efforts or allow them to happen in my classroom. At this point, I am not sure what you are doing is legal. No software is free and spreading that misconception is harmful. These children look up to adults for guidance and discipline. I will research this as time allows and I want to assure you, if you are doing anything illegal, I will pursue charges as the law allows. Mr. Starks, I along with many others tried Linux during college and I assure you, the claims you make are grossly over-stated and hinge on falsehoods. I admire your attempts in getting computers in the hands of disadvantaged people but putting linux on these machines is holding our kids back.

This is a world where Windows runs on virtually every computer and putting on a carnival show for an operating system is not helping these children at all. I am sure if you contacted Microsoft, they would be more than happy to supply you with copies of an older verison of Windows and that way, your computers would actually be of service to those receiving them..."

Amazing that she isn't at least aware of Firefox, Open Office, Chrome, Avast, AVG, Picasa, Trillian, Skype, Yahoo Messenger, or any one of the innumerable software packages that are free.
Ken's response to her is awesome; go read it.

$99 Acer Netbook Reported To Hit Radio Shack

Netbooks are reported to be the hottest computer purchase category right now. I suppose it was only a matter of time before someone figured out to apply the cellphone business model to a netbook.
Engadget is reporting a supposedly leaked Radio Shack ad featuring an Acer Aspire 3G netbook with an 8.9" screen for only $99. Plus a two year $60/month data plan from AT&T.
So that $99 netbook will really cost $1540 over the next two years. Doesn't seem like such a good deal anymore when put like that.